Selector mechanism for coin-controlled article dispensers

ABSTRACT

Selector mechanism for automatic coin-operated vending machines incorporating item display means and an actuator for operating electrical switch means for activating the selector mechanism; the latter including an item display platform and being operationally conditioned by electromechanical interlock means responsive to the availability of items for vending and which activates a mechanical signal system for positively informing the customer of item availability for selection.

ilnited States Patent Floyd V. Bookout Long Grove, 111.

Nov. 7, 1969 Dec. 21, 1971 RocbOla Manufacturing Corporation Chicago,Ill.

[72} lnventor [21] Appi. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54]SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR COIN- CONTROLLED ARTICLE DISPENSERS 9 Claims, 8Drawing Figs.

[52] 1.1.8. C1 194/10, 221/14 [51] lnt.Cl ..G0711l/00 [50] FieldofSearc-h 194/1, 10, 2;221/2, 6, 9,14,17,18, 97,151,155

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,593,102 4/1952 Caruso221/93 2,825,487 3/1958 Ericson 221/2 X 2,853,585 9/1958 Danziger etaL... 194/2 3,085,711 4/1963 Holstein et al. 194/2 3,172,519 3/1965Albright et al.... 194/2 3,205,994 9/1965 Zibbell et a1 194/10 3,278,07910/1966 Guard 194/10 X Primary Examiner-Samuel F. ColemanAttorney-Davis, Lucas, Brewer & Brugman ABSTRACT: Selector mechanism forautomatic coinoperated vending machines incorporating item display meansand an actuator for operating electrical switch means for activating theselector mechanism; the: latter including an item display platform andbeing operationally conditioned by electromechanical interlock meansresponsive to the availability of items for vending and which activatesa mechanical signal system for positively informing the customer of itemavailability for selection.

PATENTEU BEEN I911 SHEET 2 OF 2 SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR COIN-CONTROLLEDARTICLE DISPENSERS This invention relates generally to automatic vendingmachines andparticularly to improvements in means for customer selectionof items to be vended, including means for visually displaying suchitems and informing the purchaser of their availability.

Automatic vending machines capable of delivering various commodities inresponse to customer deposit of coins and initiation of a vend cycleupon selection of an item to be purchased, are a familiar part of theAmerican scene. In the art of machine vending, item identification,inspection and customer confidence that a selected item will bedelivered, are highly significant factors to economic success.

Previous efforts to promote customer identification of items haveresorted to signs, labels or facsimile models describing or showing thetype of item to be delivered. In some instances, as in vending freshfood for example, it has been possible to display the specific itemselected by the purchaser. While this has not been the general practice,yet from the customer's standpoint it is preferable that the actual itemto be vended or a sample thereof be available for visual examinationprior to making a selection.

Additionally, in vending machines capable of storing and delivering avariety of items, such as various mixed drinks, canned beverages and thelike it is usual practice to associate a given selector means with aparticular class or variety of items. If the customer deposits coins topurchase a selected item and the supply thereof is exhausted, however,even the return of the coins is not wholly satisfactory. Past efforts toalleviate this particular problem have resorted to the use ofelectrically illuminated signs or signals to indicate whether or not thesupply of a particular item is exhausted or available for purchase.Generally, illumination of the sign signifies that the item isavailable. If it is exhausted, it is normal practice to so advise thecustomer, by requesting him to select some other item. Experience hasshown that the use of such artificially illuminated signals or signs isnot very satisfactory since the problem of maintenance of the lightingsystem is time consuming, and expensive. More importantly, a burned-outsign not only creates customer confusion, but may produce loss of sales.Also, it is particularly difficult to perceive an electricallyilluminated sign or signal in a brightly lighted area, such as brightsunlight. Thus, the customer cannot always determine under such presentsystems if a selected item is available or if the vending mechanism willdeliver upon selection of an item.

This invention is directed to improved selector means which alleviatethe above and related problems in the vending machine art. Briefly, thisinvention embodies a mechanically operated means for controlling anelectrical selector switch in response to actuating movements of aselector panel, formed as a transparent member overcovering a displayduplicate of the item to be vended to the customer, thus avoidingconfusion in identifying the item selected. A suitable electromagneticinterlock system is associated with the selector switch; the interlocksystem being related to the item storage and vending system of themachine in such a fashion as to condition the selector mechanism foroperation or nonoperation according to the presence or absence of itemsavailable for delivery to the customer. Combined with the foregoing is anovel mechanical signal system responsively associated with and operatedby the interlock system to visually infonn the customer of theoperational status of the mechanism and the availability of an item forselection.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved selectormechanism for coin-operated vending machines.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an improvedselector mechanism as aforesaid having means for visually displayingitems to be vended.

A further important object of this invention is to provide an improvedselector mechanism for vending machines embodying a mechanical signalmeans for visually indicating the operational capability of the vendingmachine to deliver items upon selection.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improvedelectromechanical selector mechanism for automatic coinoperated vendingmachines combined with an electromagnetic interlock system responsive tothe supply of items to be vended and capable of preconditioning theselector mechanism for operation depending on the availability of anitem for delivery to the customer in the drawings:

FIG. I is a partial frontal perspective view of a typical vendingmachine equipped with selector mechanism according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial rear perspective view of the vending machine asshown in FIG. 11; illustrating its assembled relation with the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view in front elevation of selectormechanism of this invention;

FIG. 4i is a view in side elevation thereof taken along vantage line 4,4of FIG. l, and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing various elements embodiedin the selector mechanism of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective showing of the signal system according tothisinvention; and

FIGS. 7-8 are perspective showings of the signal system, interlocksystem and operating sequence of the selector switch means associatedtherewith.

Turningnow to the particulars of the preferred embodiment of thisinvention illustrated in the drawings, reference is initially made toFIGS. l and 2 wherein a typical machine for vending canned beverages isillustrated in partial perspective; the same including an uprightcabinet 10 having a hingedly mounted front door 11 provided with amounting panel 12 adjacent its upper end which carries plural selectormechanisms according to this invention indicated generally at 13.

As shown best in FIG. 1 the several selector mechanisms are arrayed inside-by-side fashion generally horizontally across the frontal portionsof the panel 112, while a coin receiving slot and return means 14 isprovided adjacent one end of the selector array. From the front of thedoor and mounting panel the only portions of the several mechanism 13outwardly visable to the customer are the individual transparentselector panels 15, behind each of which is displayed a sample cannedbeverage 16 to be delivered to the customer in response to actuation ofthe respectively related selectors 13. As shown in FIG. 2 of thedrawings, the several selector mechanisms I3 comprise individual modularunits, removably held in a mounting rack means 17 disposed generallyhorizontally across the rear side of panel 12 to dispose each of suchmechanisms 13 opposite an actuator opening 18 (see FIG. 4) in panel 12.Rack means 17 in addition to supporting the several selector mechanisms13, also supports a plurality of vertically disposed and removablymounted partition members 19 which serve to separate adjacent displaycubicles for the canned items 116, visable to the customer throughtransparent actuator panels 15.

With reference now to FIG. 4 in particular, it will be appreciated thatthe door I1 is formed with a generally rectangular opening 25 which isreceptive of the mounting panel I2. An inwardly turned flange portion 26extends inwardly of the upper and side margins of opening 25 and isadapted to overlie a corresponding flange portion 27 bordering the topand end edges of the panel 112. Screw means 28 interconnect the flangeportions 26,27 for the purpose of securing the panel 12 firmly overopening 25.

The several openings 18 are formed in spaced side-by-side relationshipin the mounting panel 112 and each is of a size and shape receptive ofan actuator display panel I5 of the selector mechanism. Each selectorpanel 15 is formed as a hollow open backed tray of generally trapezoidalcross section (see FIG. 4) having an inwardly turned lip wall 29 at itsupper end which is adapted to be under-engaged by a generally Z-shapedbracket 30 to effect pivotal support for the panel 15. Each bracket 30is held to the underside of flange 27 by the screw means 28 andcooperates with an opposing marginal portion 31 of panel 12, immediatelyadjacent the upper end of an opening 18, in pivotally supporting anassociated selector panel 15.

As best shown from FIGS. 1, 4 and 8 of the drawings, each selector panelcomprises a unitary moulding of transparent plastic", or the like,formed as an open-backed tray with the lip wall 29 being at the upperend of the interior tray cavity. The tray formation of panel 15comprises a planar front wall 33 (FIG. 4) having the wall 29 turnedinwardly at one end thereof and formed integrally with a bottom wall 34at the opposite or lower end thereof. Two sidewalls 35,35, oftrapezoidal formation in side elevation, extend inwardly of the sidemargins of front wall 33 and join with the lip wall 29 and the bottomwall 34 thereof to define the traylike interior. At the extreme lowerend of the selector panel is formed a reentrantly curved flange portion36 which depends from the inner edge of the bottom wall 34 to comprise acontact portion normally disposed behind the lower margin of themounting panel 12 and adapted to engage a pivotal actuator lever means37 of the selector mechanism, as will be described in greater detailhereinafter.

Before describing the detail organization of the selector mechanism 13of this invention, particular reference is first made to FIGS. 2 and 4of the drawings wherein the mounting rack means 17 is shown. Asillustrated best in FIG. 4, rack means 17 comprises an elongated stampedsheet metal frame having a horizontally disposed upper planer platformportion 40 flanked at its forward and rear margins, as shown in thatfigure, by a depending front wall portion 41 and a depending rearmounting wall portion 42. Platform portion 40 is provided with pairs ofspaced ears 43,43 (see FIG. 3) struck upwardly from the plane thereofand at the corner junction of such platform portion with the dependingfrontwall portion 41. Each pair of spaced ears comprises a stop orbarrier means for engaging the bottom rim of a canned commodity 16mounted upright on the platform behind the transparent combinationdisplay and actuator panel 15. In a similar fashion the rearward marginof the platform portion 40 is equipped with additional pairs of spacedear portions 44,44 (see FIG. 3) adapted to support a tension spring 45therebetween which firmly holds the canned item 16 in display positionagainst ears 43,43.

Support of the rack means 17 is accomplished by means of an elongatedmounting flange portion 46 formed dependingly along the lower edge of astep wall portion 47 projecting transversely from front wall 41 of therack means. Flange portion 46 is adapted to registeringly abut with amounting bracket 48 fixed to the mounting panel member 12. Specifically,sheet metal screws or similar fasteners 49 connect between the flangeportion and mounting bracket, as shown in FIG. 4, to hold rack means 17in place. Additional mounting screws also are employed between theright-hand end of rack means 17 and door 11 as viewed in FIG. 2, tocomplete the mounting assembly of the rack means.

Before leaving the description of the mounting rack means 17 it is wellto note that the front wall portion 41 thereof is distinguished by aplurality of T-shaped openings 50, the lower stem or tail of whichaccommodates the passage of the actuator lever 37 and the crossbarportion of which parallels the mounting platform portion 40 to providevisable access to signal means 51 associated with the selector mechanismas will be described hereinafter (see FIGS. 3 and 4). It is further tobe noted that there is one such T-shaped opening formed in wall portion41 opposite each of the selector mechanisms 13.

Turning now to the particulars of the selector mechanism 13 according tothis invention, special reference is made to the exploded perspectiveview in FIG. 5 of the drawings wherein the operating means thereof, withthe exception of the selector panel 15 previously described, are shown.From that figure, it will be recognized that a unitary modular housing60 accommodates the assembly of the actuator lever 37 responsive to thepivotal activity of panel 15, selector switch means 61, the signal means51 and electrical solenoid means 62 for activating the signal means 51and an associated interlock system for preconditioning control of theselection function.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings, the modular housing 60preferably is formed of sheet metal having a planar rear wall 65, abottom wall' 66 extending transversely outwardly of the lower margin ofthe rear wall and a pair of parallel spaced sidewalls, extending atright angles from the lateral margins of the rear wall 65; the samebeing indicated as a left sidewall 67 and a right sidewall 68 in FIG. 5of the drawings. The top and front sides of housing 60 are open.

The two sidewalls are substantially identical in formation and each isparticularly distinguished by a stepped profile providing an upstandingdetent ear 70 along the forward edge thereof. The detent ears soprovided are adapted to be insertedly received in slots (not shown)formed in the horizontal step portion 47 of the rack means, topositively locate the modular housing 60 opposite a selector station.Fastener means comprising a manually engageable wing bolt 73 is used tohold each modular housing 60 to the rear wall portion 42 of the rackmeans 17 (see FIG. 4). Tightening of the wing bolt secures the housingin position directly beneath the display platform portion 40 of the rackmeans and opposite a selector station of the mounting panel 12.Specifically the wing bolt 73 passes freely through an opening in thewall portion 42 of the rack means and threads into a reinforcing weldnut 74 fixed to the inside face of the rear housing wall 65, asparticularly shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

Mounted within the protective interior of housing 60, and fastened tothe rear wall 65 thereof, is the selector switch means 61 comprising aninsulating shield 78 and a microswitch assembly 79 having an elongatedpivotal actuator arm 80 (see FIG. 3) extending beyond the main body ofswitch 79 to overlie a stop 81 projecting inwardly of the housings rearwall 65. In accordance with normal operating practice the actuator arm80 is spring biased and pivots about one end toward and away from thestop 81. In the particular switching arrangement illustrated, arm 80 isspring biased to move upwardly or away from stop 81, conditioning theswitch to on or circuit making position. Switch means 79 is coupled toappropriate circuitry of the vending machine by suitable conductorsleading from the switch to an insert type of connector block 84, havingmultiple pin connectors for reception of a female connector plug (notshown). As shown, the connector block is insertedly mounted through thebottom wall 66 of the housing means. Circuit protective fuse means 85,comprising an insulated housing 86, is also mounted through bottom wall66 of the housing and is coupled in circuit with the switch 79 andconnector block 84.

The electrically actuated solenoid means 62 also is mounted within theconfines of housing means 60 and more specifically is fastened to theleft-hand sidewall 67 by fastening screw means 87 in the illustratedembodiment. Solenoid means 62 comprises a generally cubelike brackethousing 88 which is fastened to wall 67 and carries the usualelectromagnetic coil 89 having a movable core member 90 adapted toretract axially within the open core of the coil 89 upon energization ofthe latter. Suitable conductors join coil 89 with a source of energy atthe connector block 84.

Mounted above the solenoid means 62 and extending between the sidewalls67 and 68 of the housing means is a cylindrical shaft 92 (see FIG. 5)having radially reduced shoulder portions at its opposite .ends toprovide smaller coaxially aligned trunnions 93,93 adapted to extendthrough suitable openings formed for that purpose in the sidewalls 67and 68 of the housing. Locking rings 94 are employed to axially lock theshaft 92 in position. Mounted on shaft 92 for rotational movementthereabout are the actuator lever means 37 and the signal means 51 (seeFIGS. 3 and 4).

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the actuator lever means37 comprises an elongated hub portion 95, coaxially receptive of theshaft 92, and integrally formed transversely of a compound lever portion96 essentially comprising a bellcrank system.

With reference to FIG. 4 in particular, it will be understood that leverportion 96 operationally depends beneath hub por- 15, toward theactuating lever means 37, serves to pivot the i latter in acounterclockwise sense (as viewed in FIG. d) about the axis of shaftmeans 92. This raises finger portion 97 away from the switch actuatorarm 80, permitting the latter to move upwardly under normal spring bias.Returning pivotal move- 'ment of the lever means 37 in an oppositerotational sense (clockwise) is brought about by means of a tensionspring 100 which extends between a connecting lug 101, formedsubstantially at the junction of the base of finger portion 97 and thehub portion 95, and a hook 102 projecting from rear wall 65 of thehousing (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Action of spring means 100 serves to biasfinger portion 97 downwardly to press the switch actuator arm againststop 01.

Also mounted on shaft 92, radially outwardly of the hub portion 95associated with the lever means 37, is signal means 51. As best shown inFIG. 5, signal means 51 comprises a unitary body 1041, preferably moldedof plastic and having a pair of parallel spaced end walls 105,106,comprising mounting arms from each of which extends a substantiallycylindrical mounting hub 107. The two hubs so provided receive the shaft92 therethrough for free rotation of the signal means about shaft 92.The main body 104 further includes an intersecting ly related pair ofplanar signal display surfaces 100 and 109 comprising outside facesthereof which extend between the opposite end walls 105 and 106. Each ofthe surfaces 100 and 109 is adapted to mount a desired signal card,afiixed thereto as by glue or the like. In the particular instanceillustrated in FIGS. 6-0 a first card or label Push" is mounted oversurface 108 and a second signal Make Another Selection" is mounted oversurface 109.

The left-hand end wall portion 106 of the signal means is provided withan opening 110 receptive of the hooked outer end portion 111 of a signalactuator rod 1 12 which is pivotally connected at its lower end, by pinmeans 113, to the upper end of the movable core of the solenoid means62. With this arrangement, electrical energization of the solenoid meansserves to move the actuator rod 112 downwardly with core 90, rocking thesignal means 51 about shaft 92 to make the signal over surface 100thereof visable through the crossbar portion of the T-shaped slottedopening 50 formed in the front wall portion 11 of the rack means (seeFIG. 4). On the other hand, when solenoid means 62 is deenergized, asillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6 for instance, the secondary display surface109 is visable through opening 50. It will be immediately recognizedthat the signal system is positively responsive to the actuation of thesolenoid means and thus positively reflects the latters controlledcondition.

It will be noted from FIG. in particular, that the right-hand end wall105 of the signal means 51 is formed with an outwardly extending latchportion 115 which projects rearwardly past the mounting shaft 92 tooverhang and engage the switch actuator arm 00 (see FIG. 7). Inasmuch asthe latch portion 115 is formed integrally with the body 104 of thesignal means, it moves responsively therewith in accordance with theenergization and deenergization of the solenoid means s2. In order toproperly position the signal means and particularly the latch portion115 axially along the shaft 92, a cylindrical spacer member 116 ismounted between the end wall 105 and the hub 95 for the actuator lever37. Suitable spring means 110 is tensioned between a hook member 119struck outwardly of the backwall 65 of the housing means and an opening120 in the latch portion 115 radially outwardly of the shaft 92. Thus,in a normal at rest condition, the latch 115 is biased to engage theswitch actuator arm 90, pressing the same against the stop 81 associatedtherewith and preventing upward swinging movement of the actuator arm00, even though the lever means 37 be operated by pushing inwardly onthe selector panel 15 to raise the finger portion 97 off the actuatorarm. Thus, the latchportion constitutes an interlock between the switchmeans 01 and the solenoid means 52, requiring electrical energization ofthe solenoid means to raise latch portion 115 as a prerequisite tocircuit energizing operation of the switch means by the upward swingingmovement of operation arm 00.

l-laving described the elemental portions and means involved in theselector mechanism of this invention, its operation will now bedescribed with particular reference to FIGS. 6-0 of the drawings.

Preliminary to an understanding of the integrated relationship ofmechanism 13 with a vending machine 10 of the order described andillustrated herein, it is to be noted that the solenoid means 02 ofmechanism 13 is in operative circuit relationship with a Sold Out"switch (not shown) located in or adjacent to the item storage anddelivery system. In the particular example of machine 10, such a switchis located in the can delivery chute system and operatively responds tothe presence or absence of canned items in a position for customerdelivery upon selection.

When the magazine is empty and no cans are in delivery position, forexample, the Sold Out switch is open," responsive to the Sold Outcondition. The open condition of the Sold Out switch deenergizes theenabling circuit for solenoid means 62 and as a consequence the MakeAnother Selection signal of meansSl is in viewing position to thecustomer through panel 15. This state of events is illustrated in FIG. 6of the drawings. This effectively advises the customer that operation ofthat particular selector will not effect delivery of the selected item.In this condition, signal means 51 remains in its FIG. 6 position andtheinterlock latch means 115 is held against the selector switchactuator arm 00 by spring 1110, holding the same against stop means 01and thereby preventing circuit energizing operation of the selectorswitch 79. I

On the other hand if items to be vended are present in the vendingcolumn associated with a given selector mechanism, the Sold Out switchwill be in closed" circuit condition, enabling the energizing circuit tosolenoid means 62. When energized, the solenoid means 62 draws the coremember thereof downwardly, rocking the signal means 51 to its in FIG. 7position whereat the signal Push is visable to the customer. At the sametime, the latch means associated with the signal means and comprising aninterlock between the selector switch and solenoid means is lifted offof switch actuator arm 00. This conditions or unlocks the arm 00 forupward swinging movement to operate switch means 79.

However, switch means 79 also is in circuit with the vend circuitry ofthe vending machine and more particularly with a credit accumulatorwhich is responsive to the deposit of a predetermined coin value. Untilthe customer has deposited the necessary coin value for a selected itemthe circuit to the related selector switch 79 is not established.Consequently, even though the interlock latch 115 is raised fromoperator arm 00, unless the selector switch 79 is enabled by priordeposit of the necessary coin value, pushing on the selector panel 15 toactuate selector lever means 37 and raise the latter from the switchoperating arm, will not result in selection and initiation of a vendcycle. This enabled condition is illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawingsshowing the interlock means 115 raised from the arm 50.

Once the customers proper coin deposit has been accepted by the creditaccumulator of the vending machine, circuit is established to theselector switch 79. if solenoid s2 is energized and the customer pushesselector" panel 15 inwardly to raise the selector lever means 37 fromswitch operator arm 00, the latter will move upwardly, initiating theon, or circuit-making, condition for switch 79 and thereby initiating aselected 1 vend cycle. Specifically, the selector switch means 79 is incircuit controlling condition with the vendling mechanism whichoperatively controls the release of a canned item from storage whenactuated. Thus, with switch 79 established in the vend circuitry,pushing on a selector panel as directed by the Push signal visabletherethrough (see FIG. 8), initiates the desired. vend cycle to delivera selected item to the customer.

From the foregoing it is believed that those familiar with the art willreadily understand and appreciate the novel advancements presented bythe present invention, and while the same has been described inassociation with a particular preferred and illustrated embodimentthereof set out in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood thesame is nevertheless susceptible to wide variation, modification andsubstitution of equivalents without departing from the spirit and scopeof this invention.

lclaim:

1. For use in automatic, coin-operated vending machines havingelectrically operated delivery mechanism for releasing items selected bythe customer in response to customer deposit of predetermined coinvalues, improved selector mechanism for initiating a vend cyclecomprising: electrical selector switch means operatively enabled by thedeposit of a predetermined coin value and, upon actuation, serving toenable the delivery mechanism for operation; actuator means operablymovable to and between switch actuating and nonactuatingpositions andnormally biased to said switch actuating position, lever means engagedwith said actuator means and normally positioned to retain the latter insaid nonactuating position, manually operable selector panel means,accessible to the customer, and selectively operable to move said levermeans appropriately .to permit movement of said actuator means to saidswitch-actuating position; electrical solenoid means operativelyresponsive to the presence and absence of items in delivery position,and mechanical interlock means controlled by said solenoid means andoperable to precondition actuation of said switch means on the presenceof items in delivery position.

2. The combination of claim 1, including unitary housing means for saidselector mechanism, means supporting said housing means beneath adisplay platform portion, and means for holding a sample item in displayposition on top of said platform portion.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said selector panel meanscomprises a transparent barrier mounted protectively between saiddisplay platform portion and a customer, whereby an item displayed onsaid platform portion is inaccessibly visable to the customer throughsaid panel.

4. The combination of claim 3 and mounting panel means mounted adjacentsaid selector mechanism having an opening receptive of said selectorpanel means, and means supporting said selector panel means on saidmounting panel means for pivotal movement about one end.

5. The combination of claim 2, wherein said selector mechanism, exceptfor said selector panel means, comprises a unitary module, and meansdetachably mounting a plurality of such modules in side-by-side arraywithin the interior of the vending machine, each opposite a saidselector panel means, with each being independently operable andremovable.

6. The combination of claim 1 including signal means having pluralsignal display surfaces thereon, and means operatively interconnectingsaid signal means and solenoid means to present different signal displaysurfaces in position for observation by a customer in accordance withthe energized and nonenergized conditions of said solenoid means.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said interlock and signal meansare conjointly operable and independently of said lever means.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein said interlock means is operablyindependent of the operation of said lever means.

9. The combination of claim 1 and spring means normally biasing saidinterlock means and said lever means to maintain said switch means innonactuated condition.

a r s

1. For use in automatic, coin-operated vending machines havingelectrically operated delivery mechanism for releasing items selected bythe customer in response to customer deposit of predetermined coinvalues, improved selector mechanism for initiating a vend cyclecomprising: electrical selector switch means operatively enabled by thedeposit of a predeTermined coin value and, upon actuation, serving toenable the delivery mechanism for operation; actuator means operablymovable to and between switch actuating and nonactuating positions andnormally biased to said switch actuating position, lever means engagedwith said actuator means and normally positioned to retain the latter insaid nonactuating position, manually operable selector panel means,accessible to the customer, and selectively operable to move said levermeans appropriately to permit movement of said actuator means to saidswitch-actuating position; electrical solenoid means operativelyresponsive to the presence and absence of items in delivery position,and mechanical interlock means controlled by said solenoid means andoperable to precondition actuation of said switch means on the presenceof items in delivery position.
 2. The combination of claim 1, includingunitary housing means for said selector mechanism, means supporting saidhousing means beneath a display platform portion, and means for holdinga sample item in display position on top of said platform portion. 3.The combination of claim 2, wherein said selector panel means comprisesa transparent barrier mounted protectively between said display platformportion and a customer, whereby an item displayed on said platformportion is inaccessibly visable to the customer through said panel. 4.The combination of claim 3 and mounting panel means mounted adjacentsaid selector mechanism having an opening receptive of said selectorpanel means, and means supporting said selector panel means on saidmounting panel means for pivotal movement about one end.
 5. Thecombination of claim 2, wherein said selector mechanism, except for saidselector panel means, comprises a unitary module, and means detachablymounting a plurality of such modules in side-by-side array within theinterior of the vending machine, each opposite a said selector panelmeans, with each being independently operable and removable.
 6. Thecombination of claim 1 including signal means having plural signaldisplay surfaces thereon, and means operatively interconnecting saidsignal means and solenoid means to present different signal displaysurfaces in position for observation by a customer in accordance withthe energized and nonenergized conditions of said solenoid means.
 7. Thecombination of claim 6 wherein said interlock and signal means areconjointly operable and independently of said lever means.
 8. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein said interlock means is operablyindependent of the operation of said lever means.
 9. The combination ofclaim 1 and spring means normally biasing said interlock means and saidlever means to maintain said switch means in nonactuated condition.